The Senate Judiciary Committee voted today by 7 to 3 to allow the Celler Bill to liberalize displaced persons legislation to go to the Senate floor for consideration before this session closes. Acting on two motions by Sen. Homer Ferguson, of Michigan, the committee voted to report out the controversial measure without recommendation.
The Celler Bill was approved by the House last spring and would alter the DP Act of 1948 by removing many restrictions claimed to be discriminatory to Jews and Catholics. It would also increase the number of DP’s to be admitted from 205,000 to 339,000 in three years. The judiciary body took action today in the absence of its chairman, Sen. Pat McCarran of Nevada and Sen. James O. Eastland of Mississippi, both outspoken opponents of DP entry to the United States.
(In Geneva yesterday International Refugee Organization director-general J. Donald Kingsley announced that Israel will accept all Jewish refugees still remaining in camps before the winter sets in, regardless of any disabilities they may have. The announcement was made at a meeting of the I.R.O. General Council which is considering the I.R.O.’s final year of operations.)
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